Rabbi
“Foreign Policy and Social Justice: A Jewish View, a Muslim View” is being presented by the campus groups Forum on American Progress and the MIT Social Justice Cooperative. It is co-sponsored by MIT’s School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
Boston University professor Ari Trachtenberg expressed his displeasure in a series of e-mails to Deborah Fitzgerald, dean of the SHASS. Trachtenberg has subsequently disseminated the e-mails on the Jewish Boston listserv.
“You are publicly sponsoring a discussion of most hateful ideology under the guise of valiant principles,” he wrote. “Freedom of speech is extremely important, but it is deeply tied to the moral imperative to protest hateful speech. I hope that MIT lives up to this moral imperative.”
Weiss, associate director of the ultra-Orthodox, anti-Zionist group Neturei Karta, drew the wrath of his own organization as well as the Satmar Hasidim and mainstream Jewry after his appearance at the Iranian conference, according to Trachtenberg.
Deborah Lipstadt, director of the Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University and a foremost expert on Holocaust denial, believes it is beyond the university’s power to monitor who comes to campus except in extreme cases. She does, however, hope that this event flies way under the radar, and that Weiss speaks to an empty room.
“They’re nothings. They’re contemptuous,” Lipstadt told the Advocate. “Whoever invited them did it for scandal’s sake. It behooves the community not to make a fuss. People should not go demonstrate, people should ignore them. This man deserves nothing from us, protesting would be a big mistake. Do not offer him legitimacy.”
(Source: The Jewish Advocate)
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39 Responses
You can’t beat these folks at their own game. Best to ignore. Anything else is doing there bidding.
Mr A. Cohen was received warmly and even had an aliya in a certain shul in Antwerp this week.
How can we expect from the goyim any better????????………………………………………………………..
What do you expect from the same campus that has employed Noam Chomsky, another Holocaust denier and self-hating Jew, for the past 30 years. Way to go Ari Trachtenberg. keep up the good work.
For better or worse, many universities aim to be bastions of open discussion and the free exchange of ideas (albeit with a dose of anti-Israel bias, in many cases).
I realize that this may be at odds with the Yeshiva system, but universities take the position that many of the great advances in fields ranging from astronomy to zoology would not have been possible in a climate where individuals were bound to the then-prevailing worldview.
I realize I may have just triggered an onslaught of off-topic, anecdotal anti-university remarks, which I may or may not agree with. But my point remains, if you’re going to allow the free exchange of ideas, that includes ideas that may be unpopular, as were those of Galileo, for example. Of course, there are reasonable limits (incitement to violence etc.), but allowing the NK to voice their views obviously falls short of this bar in the eyes of the administration.
I am not surprised. Universaties are the bastion of liberalism. The root of all social and cultural ill start at the Universaties. This creep will only be preaching to the choir. They will sit there rapt. Of course this only proves the mentality of David Weiss. If someone would lower themselves to such a level and speak to such an audience is not to be considered part of our camp.
Jolie
Mr. Cohen was NOT very warmly accepted in Antwerp and he was here over a month ago or so. In any case , his grandchild will be gettting married in Antwerp soon and I hear he is NOT allowed in Belgium.
ESSENTIAL FACTS TO KNOW:
Most ivy league universities and colleges have their Middle East and History Departments endowed (once again $$$) by the Saudi Government. The Saudis then call the shots, through employment and curriculum development. The professors hired are Arabists in thoughts and deeds, Israel and the Democratic values has no chance, or even a voice of protest. Thank GD, kiruv couples are setting up heritage centers on many of these college campuses, and opening a tiny light of truth and honesty to spark.
Wrong R. Weissberg, he will not be preaching ONLY to the choir—there will be large handfuls of innocent and uneducated students who will be hearing kifira and Jewish hatred from a JEWISH LOOKING person. Voices should be raised from all circles to protest!
…and to further my point. Mr. Moshe Aryeh Friedman came to Antwerp tWOyears ago to make abris for his son and when he asked a certain Mohel to perform the circumcision, he replied, and not in jest, ‘whats the rush, you have time till the boy is 13’.
Please dont think that they are accepted by Jews, they are not, not at all!
“nameless”: His grandchild (daughter of his son) got married Tuesday night and that’s the reason he was there. Hundreds of people here saw him, he danced at the wedding and noone there told him a word?!?!?! (Actually he came after 11:30 when most guests already left)
He was in 2 different shuls here, he even received an aliyah in one of them (not a big chiddush as they give aliyas to another self converted convert who is also a big anti Israel, Jewish basher mosser etc.
Please don’t argue with facts when you don’t know what you’re talking about…
ROCHEL — I’m not sure I understand the point of your criticism that:
“This creep will only be preaching to the choir. They will sit there rapt.”
With the exception of the “creep” part, of course, wouldn’t this be just as apt a description of a lecture by one of the Charedi world’s luminaries. Methinks the pot is calling the kettle rapt.
How is this a criticism?
Charedim Kol
You say: “many universities aim to be bastions of open discussion and the free exchange of ideas”
It can be easily documented that most universities have long ago abandoned these ideals in practice. The only open discussion is between the left, the extreme left, the loony left and the islamist rightwing, who have found common cause with the former groups.
It is rare indeed that anyone representing another point of view is granted a podium. Usually they are invited by a few conservatives or Jews, and so violently attacked by the “bastion members”, that their speeches are cancelled, “for their own protection”. (B. Netanyahu, example)
You call that “free exchange of ideas??”
BKLYNMOM — Please support your assertion that “Most ivy league universities and colleges have their Middle East and History Departments endowed (once again $$$) by the Saudi Government.” Otherwise, please withdraw it. I will even take sources from the Yated.
ESG — I’m curious as to where your expertise on universities comes from. Did you attend? Or are you basing your comments on what you read in the Yated et al?
I do agree with you that academia has a noticeable lefty slant, and mentioned this in my initial post. I served on the editorial board of an academic journal and know this firsthand. However, I also know that, when selecting pieces for publication, we had sensible two-way discussions on Jewish and Israeli issues. Furthermore, right-wing viewpoints were not shouted down the way they are here and, on numerous occasions, they indeed prevailed when the matter was put to a vote.
Yes — I call that a free exchange of ideas, or at least a relatively free exchange of ideas compared to what I see here, where people essentially throw rocks and shout “Shabbes!” whenever they hear something that isn’t precisely up their theological alley.
JOLIE
The fact is he WAS there a few monthes ago as well!!!!
I said he was not welcomed warmly by the Antwerp crowd in general, and I wonder why he only came to his grandchild’s wedding after 11:30..WHEN MOST GUESTS LEFT…..
The wedding announcement was not printed in the Jewish community paper so I wasnt sure whether it was this week or next, but the point is hewas notallowed into Belgium so I have no idea how and who got him in here…
Weiss is s sick man. He lost members of his own family in the Holocaust and he joins with those who deny the Holocaust. He doesn’t need condemnatioin, he needs a good psychiatrist.
He enjoys the spotlight. Ingore him but get him help.
Thank you YW for keeping us informed.
We MUST remain informed so that we can combat these vile people.
Of note: Many of you have already heard there is a rally planned for outside the Iranian consulate in NYC to be held on Taanis Esther. The primary organizer is Avi Weiss, founder of AMCHA. While this may appear to be worthy event in light of our overall matzav and especially to counter the NK goons, I would like to draw attention to a horrible hypocrisy.
Avi Weiss is also the founder of a “yeshiva” called Chovivei Torah. Having great pride in the format of “open” orthodoxy, which “greatly encourages intellectual openness, questioning, and critical thinking as essential components of one’s full service to God (avodat Hashem).” It also affirms ” the shared covenantal bond between all Jews. Promoting love of all Jews (ahavat Yisrael) and actively pursuing the positive and respectful interaction of all Jewish movements. ”
As part of it’s open mindedness, YCT alum have bonded with a group of extreme leftists called Rabbis for Human Rights. Here is a quote which sounds like it was written by a Neturei Kart speech writer:
“We cannot ignore the suffering that Israel has caused the Palestinian people during the thirty-five year occupation of the West bank and Gaza Strip. And we believe that the American Jewish community must acknowledge Israel’s mistakes and recognize the humanity and pain of the Palestinians. What are we to do when loyalty to the Jewish State demands an abnegation of this fundamental principle?”
I could further connect the dots but assume most YW readers to be able to do so on their own.
My point is. while we must be very vigilant in following every step of the NK and showing our disapproval for their sin’as yisroel, we must be cautious as to how we go about this.
Uvo L’Tzion Go’el
PnA
I didn’t mean to talk against the whole Antwerp. I just said there’s a hardcore group of supporters there and that’s giving these lunatics the support they need to go so low. How in the world can any sane person support them I don’t know but these are the facts.
The problem is we are also not doing anything to have these animals spat out of us. Lehavdil can you imagine arabs travelling to Israel photographing themselves with Israeli officials and officially proclaiming “Israel is right”. Will they or their family survive another day??
They are allowed in Belgium. The Jewish Kehillos tried to have him banned as Holocaust denier but meanwhile with no success.
Lest you think I am taking credit for this expose, please be sure to read last weeks Yated for a great essay on this subject.
ATTN ALL: here is the email address for this SHASS place. just start pounding them.
[email protected]
Strength in numbers!!
HEY MONSEY! WAKE UP. THIS IS ANOTHER TREIF MEAT (MIT) SCANDAL.
THESE GUYS ARE TREIF MEAT. DRIVE THEM OUT OF TOWN.
MONSEY DID IT ONCE BEFORE.
Charadimkolyisroel
Harvard and Columbia (Ed Said chair in Columbia is paid for by Middle East bucks) sited this endowment info in their annual Alumni News. Boston University sited a gift from the Saudi’s for their political education departments. These are pretty known facts, can be checked in Honest Reporting, I don’t post publicly info unless I have a source for it.
There is an official cherem in Antwerp against these 6 NK members. The shtiebel where Mr. Cohen received an aliyah is a’pin in the haystack’. Although he might be the best of a very poor choice of thugs, Europe in general did a very good job in shaking thes e people off!
Mr. Friedman davens between the four walls with maybe 2 of his kids. He was thrown out of every shul in Vienna, hardly anyone looks at him on the street.
Basically this was the reason he wanted his baby’s bris in Antwerp where the Rebbe walked out on himl. He even had the chutzpah of wanting to call the Kehilla to Bais Din for not just being ‘mivayesh’ the father and the baby, but ELIYOHU HANAVI….can you imagine??
It wouldbe a pleasure to see his American counterparts being rejected in the same way……
CKY,
I do have experience in academia, and Bklynmom is stating facts, not conjecture.
The era of “free exchange of ideas” has sadly been relegated to the dustbin of history. This causes no small loss to the current generation of learners.
The world is FULL of ANTI SEMITES this weiss cholera is no different. until a better solution can be found the “nk” should be ignored PLEASE DO NOT give them the attention they seek.
Torah Yidden of in all walks of life have put the creatures in cherem
Charedim,
It is high time you stop attacking everyone who you disagree with. As well as your attempt at language sophistry.
nameless, you keep beating that Euro-centric bush. That is why you are reminded of the modern pograms boiling over all over Europe.
Charedim Kol
I said that: “It can be easily documented that most universities have long ago abandoned these ideals in practice.”
You ignored my statement brushing it off with a snide Yated Neeman comment.
Well I stand by my statement that there in no longer tolerence of opposing views on most campuses which you are unable to refute:
The following are just a small sample I plucked from the ADL website, and I have been considerate enough to include a link so you can do your own “non-Yated Neeman research”. I’m confident that if I had the time or inclination I can back up my statment with a book size of information.
http://www.adl.org/CAMPUS/campus_incidents.asp
University of California – Irvine,
May 7 – Jewish students, faculty and campus visitors were verbally assaulted and threatened following a pro-Israel rally organized by Hillel members at San Francisco State University. A group of pro-Palestinian counter-demonstrators allegedly hurled epithets at a few dozen organizers, screaming slogans such as “Go back to Russia” and “Hitler did not finish the job.”
April 15 – A Jewish student at Illinois State University alleges he was threatened by a 30-year-old Palestinian graduate student. For several weeks, the Palestinian student has held pro-Palestinian protests/gatherings on the university�s quad. When asked to sign a petition in support of the Palestinians, the Jewish student questioned whether the petition addressed the issue of bombings. At this point, the Palestinian student walked up to him and said the petition talked about how to blow the Jewish student’s head off.
April 24 – The Muslim Student Association of University of California at San Diego sponsored a talk by Hatem al-Bazian, a speaker whose anti-Semitic and anti-American views were challenged by Hillel members, who placed fliers around campus that featured al-Bazian�s quotes. Muslim students who witnessed what Hillel members were doing began to scream and taunt the Jewish students; one allegedly made threats of physical harm.
april 17 – At Columbia University, several graduate teaching assistants used departmental e-mail listserves to promote an on-campus anti-Israel rally. Several faculty members cancelled their classes to allow students to attend. One graduate student was sanctioned for misuse of departmental lists and one of the faculty members has since apologized.
April 9 – Campus police at UC – Berkeley arrested 79 pro-Palestinian protesters who had stormed into a classroom building in an attempt to disrupt a Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration. In the aftermath of the incident, the university suspended the student organization, “Students for Justice in Palestinine,” pending an investigation
great work esg.
There is an organization that is under the auspices of R’ Noch Weinberg shli”ta of Aish Hatorah called Hasbara Fellowships (www.IsraelActivism.com) which is geared exactly toward these biases you disclosed.
Is he going to give a shir on purim!?!?!? or is it purim all year for this kuku head!
You won’t find ANY “Ultra Chasidisha” (flat hat, long peyos) or “chasidish LOOKING” guy go talk in front of a mixed crowed! Only this guy can do it! He does not behave at all – to match his appearance!
What’s my point?
He misrepresents the Ultra chasiddisha – flat hatters – long peyos….
I consider this a tremendous ‘chillul Hashem’.
He will be saying things completely opposite to what similar looking guys want portrayed…
But we have no control over this (or anything). He spoke to the BIG media… No one could stop him… Now he will do the same! What a shame!
ESG — Thank you for your lengthy post. The stories are very sad. My point related to people making general, even statistical, statements and backing them up with anecdotal evidence. It’s sloppy.
JOSEPH — I’m not attacking anyone. It’s a discussion board and I am discussing. Yes, I disagree with people occasionally (that’s usually what prompts me to post).
Many of the posters seem to be intent on stamping out any views that dissent from the prevailing hegemony (how’s THAT for a fancy word). I can only hope that not everyone reading at home feels the same way. I’m sorry that you see someone disagreeing with you as an attack. I do not.
CKY,
“Many of the posters seem to be intent on stamping out any views that dissent ”
Exactly as you do. You’ve joined the blog and are part of the cholent- bean, meet barley. Dissenting views, cacophony of worldviews, assortment of egos- you’ve integrated well.
CharedimKY ** Please keep posting, you write & express yourself well. Your point of view always has a good point to think about (even old people still think).
Joseph
‘nameless, you keep beating that Euro centric bush…..’
I dont know what your getting at. Jolie said that the NK have considerable support here in Europe and thats not the case.
The Jewish communities here are doing a LOT more AGAINST THESE GOONS THEN YOU ARE IN AMERICA…
I fail to see what this has to do with the ‘modern pogroms boiling all over Europe’
Give credit where credit is due!
SARAH — Contrary to your suggestion, I am interested in discussing issues that I care about, not stamping out other people’s views like Amalek. JOSEPH’s 7:28 post is an example of this (cool it, it’s not Parshas Zachor yet).
There seems to be much homogeneity in this Cholent (more of a pudding sometimes), and I’m happy to add a bone once in a while.
Charedem,
Differance of opinion is perfectly fine. The problem with you, is that you engage in argumentum ad hominem.
” I’m happy to add a bone once in a while.”
Or a glob of onion soup mix? More apt. I’ll let you think why. Happy Purim.
I wonder when this clown will stop liveing in america & move 2 iran!!!!!!! i think he should rent out an apt. in aaaccmadenagggaaddd town .over there he gets a lot of koved.
Ali Wyne, Forum on American Progress President MIT responded to several inquiries as to the motivations behind the event at MIT.
Out of his response which didn’t really convince me, I do like one statement which reads, “even if one was entirely unfamiliar with Neturei Karta (NK) or Rabbi Weiss prior to last night, I highly doubt that he or she could have left the forum with the impression that his thoughts align with those of mainstream Jews.”
I can post his whole response to Mr. Rafi Kohan, a reporter for The Jewish Advocate if YW readers would prefer.